Saturday will be GSU's (7-4) fifth match against a ranked opponent this season. The match will also be the first meeting between Georgia State and South Carolina (8-4) in history. The Panthers return to the court after a 5-2 win on Monday against North Florida.

Fifth-year head coach Miha Lisac and the Panthers see Saturday's match as an important chance to set sights back on their lofty goals for the 2012 season.

"South Carolina is a very tough team; the match will be an outstanding opportunity for us as a team to continue our progress," Lisac said, "It's going to be a very tough challenge for each and every player to bring a point in for the team. But, we understand beating South Carolina can get us back on track towards achieving all of our goals we set this season."

The highlight of Saturday's match will be another tough matchup for sophomore Abigail Tere-Apisah. The Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, native enters the match ranked No. 34 in the ITA Singles rankings. She faces the No. 45-ranked player in South Carolina senior Anya Morgina in the No. 1 singles match on Sautrday.

So far this season, Tere-Apisah has three victories against ranked opponents. She defeated Fresno State's Marianne Jodoin, the No. 45-ranked player, 6-3, 6-4, most recently. She also owns wins against the No. 93-ranked singles player in Wake Forest's Kayla Duncan and the No. 45-ranked player in Georgia Tech's Jillian O'Neill this season. Tere-Apisah is 11-0 now to start the season.

South Carolina returns to action after it dropped a 5-2 match at Vanderbilt last Sunday. The Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 22 on Mar. 2 this season. The team also participated in the ITA Division I Kick-Off Weekend held at Georgia Tech in late January where it defeated William & Mary 4-1. Georgia State also participated in the event and notched a 4-2 victory over William & Mary the next day.

The Gamecocks sport three ranked singles players in total including senior Dijana Stojic (#76) and junior Jaklin Alawi (#82). South Carolina's top doubles pair of Stojic and Alawi is ranked No. 64.

Georgia State's most recent battle against a Southeastern Conference opponent was a successful one as it took a 4-2 win at Mississippi State last season. Sophomore Maryna Kozachenko clinched that match with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win at No. 4 singles.

Live stats will be provided for Saturday's match courtesy of South Carolina's media relations department. Visit the women's tennis page on www.GeorgiaStateSports.com following the match for a full recap and box score.